A National City man has been sentenced to just short of nine years behind bars for transporting teenage girls across state lines for prostitution. Kenneth Tenorio, 54, received a 106-month prison term after pleading guilty to taking two female teens from San Diego to other cities for sexual exploitation.
During the sentencing, U.S. District Court Judge Cathy Bencivengo harshly criticized Tenorio's actions. "You just took advantage of their vulnerabilities to put money in your pocket," she said, giving credit for time already served to slightly reduce the maximum potential sentence. Despite Tenorio's previous custody in Texas on local charges, his sentence landed close to the harshest penalty, emphasizing the gravity of his crimes.
According to court documents, Tenorio’s heinous conduct involved juveniles and took place over several states. The victims, some of whom removed from their homes and placed in the foster care system, were lured into commercial sex work for Tenorio’s financial benefit. In his plea agreement, Tenorio admitted to using his Megapersonals account to post sex advertisements and expected the victims to hand him a cut of their earnings.
The case details, obtained by the U.S. Attorney's Office, revealed Tenorio exploited a 15-year-old minor known as JF1, fully aware of her age. He coached her on how to solicit in prostitution areas called "the blade" and promised to provide "protection" for a fee. Tenorio was caught in a broader crackdown on human trafficking, conducted by Homeland Security Investigations, the Chula Vista Police Department, and other agencies.
Reflecting on the importance of combating this crime, U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath said, “Sex trafficking is a deplorable crime that impacts victims for a lifetime. This sentence brings justice to the victims and the community is safer with this defendant off the streets." McGrath also stressed the ongoing necessity for public awareness and reporting any suspicions of trafficking to authorities.
The severity of Tenorio’s punishment comes during National Human Trafficking Prevention Month, highlighting continued efforts to educate and prevent such crimes. The San Diego Human Trafficking Task Force played a pivotal role in bringing Tenorio to justice. This multi-agency group is dedicated to supporting survivors and penalizing traffickers.
Victims of human trafficking are often missed or isolated, making public vigilance and reporting essential. Support and justice for these individuals become possible through the concerted efforts of law enforcement and community organizations. The National Human Trafficking Hotline remains available at 1-888-373-7888 for anyone who needs assistance or wants to report a potential trafficking situation.
